Apparatus for use in refrigerating, heating, drying, impregnating, or otherwise treating goods.



No. 705,279. Patented July 22, I902.

J. MCRAE. APPARATUS FOR USEIN REFRIGERATING, HEATING; DRYING, IMPREGNATIIIG, OR

OTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

(Applicatibn filed Mar. 5, 1901.

(No Modal.) 8 Shegts8hest .I.

m: noun-s PETERS co. Puo'rc-ummwAsHmmou. uv c.

'Np. 705,279. Patented ]uly'22,- I902;

- J. McRAE. v APPARATUS FOR USE IN B EFBIGERA TING; HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATING, OR I OTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1801.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Wi Z'wses' I JEVenZZJ THE Norms PETERS co. r oro-unmwAsnmmoN. r;v c.

.,No. 705,279. J. McRAE'. APPARATUS FOR USE IN REFBIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATING, QB

OTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

(Applicafion filed 5, 1901.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

TNE Norms PETERS 4:04 Pm'wn-uwa" wasumnmm u c No. 705,279. I A Patented July 22,1902.

J. McBAE.-

APPARATUS FDR USE .IN REFRIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNA'HNG; OR

I OTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

(Application-filed Mar. 6, 1901.) (No Model.) 8 Shaets$heet 4.

THE NORRIS nnzas co, mcnmuma. WASHINGTON o. c,

' Patenfd July 22,1902.

, J. McRAE. APPARATUS FOR USE IN REFRIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATING; OR

OTHERWISE TREATING. GOODS.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

(No Modell) me mums PETERS cc PHOTO LITMQ. WASHINGTON, um.

No. 705,279. I Patented July 22, I902.

' J. MOBAE.

APPARATUSFOR USE IN RE FRIGERA'I'ING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATIIIG, OR

OTHERWISE TREA'I'ING GOODS.

(Application filed m1. 5, 1901.) (NoJlodoL) a Sheets-Sheet .6.

a v l W QED I i [HE NORRIS PETERS pp, wow-mun, WASHINGTON u. c

No. 705,279. Patented" July 22'. I902.

J. McRAE. APPARATUS FOR USE IN REFRIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATING. UR

'UTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

(Io Mortal.) 8 vSheetr-Sheef 7,

m: NORRIS FETERS co FHOTO-LIYFQ, wnsnmawrg, o c

No. 705,279. I 'Patented July 22, I902.

J. McRAE',

APPARATUS FOR USE IN REFRIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING; IMPREGNATING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING 60008.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

6 0a,: M01944, I

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JAMES MORAE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN COOPER BROADBENT, OF HUDDERSFIELD, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN REFRIGERATING, HEATING, DRYING, IMPREGNATING', OR'OTHERWISE TREATING GOODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,279, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed March 5, 1901. Serial No. 49,862. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES MORAE, a subject of the King of England residing and havin a closed atmosphere, and more especially.

for continuous work in the cooling of successive charges of goods-for example, chocolate confectionery and the like.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is the left half and Fig. 1 the right half of a central vertical section of a refrigeratingchamber constructedaccording to this invention. Fig. 2 is the left half 'and Fig. 2 the right half of a cross-section thereof on the line 11 of Fig. 1 andFig. 1?. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views. Fig. 5 is a vertical radial section, and Fig. 6 a section on line VI VI of Fig. 5, respectively showing more particularly the construction of shutters for prevent ing the entrance of warm air to the chambers when the door is opened. Figs. 7 and 8show a modified construction for operation of the shutters, and Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a fan for the circulation of air. Fig. 10 is a radial section, and Fig.11 afront-view, showing a further modified construction for operation of the shutters. Fig. 12 is a view of thedoor-latch. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section showing a roller for preventing passage of air past the lateral walls of the chamber opposite the door.

The apparatus comprises achamber l, preferably cylindrical,with its axis vertical,closed above and below by removable or other covers 2 and having its wallor walls and said covers made or filled with non-conductive material for example, of sheet metal or wood with hollow spaces 3, filled with silicate cotton, slagwool, or the like. In said chamber there is mounted to revolve a receiver 4 for the goods to be cooled, comprising a central shaft 5 and partitions 6,which, commencing radial to said 7 and'8.

shaft, bifurcate and diverge, so as to continue parallel, respectively,each to the next partition in order to form a series of radial chamledgesS, of wood, angle-iron, or other mate rial, on which trays carrying the goods to be cooled may be placed. At one part of the wall of the main chamber is a door 9 for giving access to said radial chambers as each successively is brought by the revolution of the set of radial chambers in coincidence with said door. Above and'below within this part of the main chamber are horizontal non-conductive partitions or shutters 1'0. One method of constructing these shutters is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. They are supported from the top and bottom-covers 2 by brackets 11, and between the latter an'd'the shutters are placed blocks ofrubber or other resilient material 12 to serve as springs, so that when the radial chambers arrive between said shutters a tight closure will be effected and'all communication shut off from the remainder of the interior of the main chamber. Oouutersunk screws 13 and thumb-nuts 14 areprovided for purposes of adjustment to compensate for wear of the rubber blocks, and the shutters shutters.

Amodified form of shutter is shown in Figs. In this case the shutter 10 is hinged at 37 to the casing l of the main' chamber and the central drum or well of the receiver has an annular rail'33 of undulating form, on whichruns' a pulley 34," mounted on a short shaft 35, having bearing-in a block 36 on the shutter, so that on the receiver being revolved the said shutter is slightly raised and lowered for the purpose of avoiding the friction arising from the edges of the radial chambers engaging the spring-pressed shutters, as in the arrangement} previously described. It should be remarked that the descending undulations of the rail 33 are made sufficiently deep to avoid any possibility of the shutter not closing tightly against the radial chambers, and in this connection it is not necessary that the pulley 34 should be in contact with said lower parts of the rail in the course of its travel.

A further modification in the method of operating the shutters is shown in Figs.10 and 11. In these figures the shutters 11 are supported bylinks 33, pivoted in pairs in brackets 34, attached to the covers or ends 2 of the easing and to the shutters. Circular rods 35 may connect the brackets, on which rods the links revolve, or short pivots may be used for this purpose, as shown. Fixed to the shutters at the end nearest the door are fiat plates or rods 36, acting as strikers, adapted to engage recesses or cut-away portions 37 in the top and bottom edges of the door 9, and pivoted to the front links are rods 38, passing to the outside of the casing through plates 39 and provided with nuts 41 for adjustment. Helical springs 42 are placed around said rods 38 in suitable channels or apertures made therefor between the two walls of the casing 1, said springs hearing at one end against the plates 39 and at the other against the exterior of the inside wall of the casing. The purpose of this mechanism is that on the door 9 being opened the springs, which are made sufiiciently powerful, will pull forward the links 33 through rod 38, and consequently bring the shutters tightly against the top and bottom edges of that chamber which happens to be opposite the door, thus cutting ofi all communication with the rest of the coolingchamber. It will be seen that when the door is closed the shutters are quite clear of the chambers, thus considerably facilitating the rotary movement of said chambers. Guides 48, supported by brackets 53, are provided for insuring the proper direction of movement of the shutters and prevent same from lateral play. The links 33 may be made adjustable as to their length, if desired. If desired, the shutters may project to engage into each compartment or radial chamber, so that the door has to be closed to release same, as shown in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 12 is shown a latch for the door 9. This latch 49 is weighted and pivoted to the casing at and when the door is closed engages a catch 51 on the door, but when opened engages a rest 52 on the casing, as shown in dotted lines. The before-mentioned springs 42 may be made of such strength that on the latch 49 being raised they will thrust the shutters with suflicient force to automatically open the door through the mechanism described and at the same time close the shutters.

In Fig. 13 is shown an arrangement to further shut off the compartment opposite the door from the rest of the chamber when the door is opened. This consists of a vertical roller 53 of approximately the same length as the height of the compartment and mounted on a shaft 60. One of these rollers is placed on each side of the door in close proximity thereto and bears against the wall of the receiver between the compartments. These rollers also avoid friction on revolution of the receiver. A guard is placed around the roller to protect same from the packing placed between the walls of the casing.

The interior of the main chamber may be cooled by any suitable means. In the drawings tanks 15 are arranged in sets of three and adapted to be filled with brine or other cooling medium, which is admitted at 16, and after circulating through all tanks, which are connected to each other by pipes 17, is ultimately discharged at 18. Condensation upon the exterior of the tanks 15 may be carried off by troughs 22 into the central drum of the receiver and thence by the annular trough 23 and pipe 24 into the trapped pipe 25, where the condensed liquid forms a seal for preventing the entrance of warm air. The receiver may be revolved by any convenient means-for instance, by an exterior handwheel 19 on shaft-40, atthe other end of which is a pinion 20, which gears either with a circular rack 21, fixed to the bottom of the receiver, as in Fig. 1, or, as in Fig. 10, with a beveled wheel 44 on the shaft 5.

An indicator 26 is mounted at the upper end of central shaft 5 and serves to show when a chamber is opposite the door and which chamber has thus arrived, it being provided with figures or numbers corresponding to the said radial chambers. This indicator consists of a circular band 27for instance, of metalsupported from the central shaft by radial arms 28, which are fixed in a socket 29, keyed to the central shaft 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

30 and 31 represent an oil cup and pipe for the purpose of lubricating the lower end of shaft 5, which is mounted in a step-bearing 32.

A fan 38 may be placed in the lower part of the central drum of the receiver, as shown in Fig. 9, for the purpose of causing an upward circulation and distribution of the cold air, as it is found that the colder air tends to collect at the bottom of the main chamber and the Warmer air above. This fan may be mounted on a sleeve 39, loose on central shaft 5, and be operated by any suitable meansfor instance, an electric motor. A suitable bell 56, Fig. 10, may surround the fan to assist in guiding the air upward through the central well.

The apparatus can be used in the same way for heating instead of cooling or for drying, impregnating, or in any way treating goods in an atmosphere different from that prevailing outside the apparatus, and therefore requiring to be inclosed.

I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination of arotary holder comprising a plurality of radial compartments each open above and below, with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the side wall thereof, said casing closely surrounding said holder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces,-above and below said holder, whereby free circulation of atmosphere is permitted within said casing vertically through said compartments, a door for closing said doorway and shutters above and below the rotaryholder adjacent to the door of the casing, adapted to close above and below that compartment which is alined with the doorway when the door is opened for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of arotaryholdercomprising aplurality of radial compartments open above and below, with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the side wall thereof of a width and height equivalent to the width and height of each radial compartment, said casingclosely surroundin g said holder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces above and below said holder, a door for closing said doorway, shutters aboveand below the rotary holder adjacent to the door of the casing and means for operating said shutters to close above and below that compartment which is alined with the doorway when the door is-opened for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a rotary holder comprising a plurality of radial compartments each open above and below with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the side wall thereof of a width and height equivalent to the width and height of each radial compartment, said casing closely surrounding saidholder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces above and below said holder, whereby free circulation of atmos phere is permitted within said casing vertically through said compartments, a door for closing said doorway, shutters above and below the rotary holder adjacent to the door of the casing, adapted to close above and below that compartment whichis alined with the doorway when the door is opened, and means for cooling the atmosphere in said casing.

4. The combination of a rotary holder comprising a plurality of radial compartments open above and below and surrounding a cen tral shaft, with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the sidewall thereof of a width and height equivalent to the width and height of each radial compartment, said casing closely surrounding said holder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces above and below said holder, a door for closing said doorway, shutters above and below the rotary holder adjacent to the door of the casing, adapted to close above and below that compartment which is alined with the doorway when the door is'opened for the the doorway when the door is opened for'the purpose set forth, means for cooling the atmosphere in said casing in the space above the rotary holder and a fan for causing a circulation of said atmosphere in a direction upwardly centrally of said radial compartments into contact with said cooling means and downwardly through the compartments.

5. The combination of a rotary holder comprising a plurality of radial compartments open above and below and surrounding a central shaft with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the side wall thereof of a width and height equivalent to the width and height of each radial-compartment, said casing closely surrounding said holder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces above and below said holder, a door for closing said doorway, shutters above and below the rotary holder adjacent to the door of the casing, means for operating'said shutters to close above and below that compartment which-is alined with the doorway when the door is opened for the purpose set forth, means for cooling the atmosphere in said casing comprising a series of refrigerating-pipes in the space above the rotary holder and a fan for causing a circulation of said atmosphere in a direction upwardly centrally of said radial compartments into contact with said cooling means and downwardly through the compartments.

6. The combination of a rotary holder comprising a plurality of radial" compartments open above and below and surrounding a central shaft, with a casing closed above and below and having a doorway in the side wall thereof of a width and height equivalent to the width and height of each radial compartment, said casing closely surroundingvsaid holder at the sides thereof but inclosing free spaces above and below said-holder, a door for closing said doorway shutters above and below the rotary holder adjacent to the door of the casing, adapted to close above'and below that compartment which is alined with purpose set forth, refrigerators for cooling the'atmosphere in said casing in the space above the rotary holder, means for draining the condensation products on said refrigerator through the central shaft and an outflow-pipe for said condensation products adapted tobe sealed thereby.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

- JAMES MCRAE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM'JAMES THOMAS,

FREDERICK KENSINGTON. 

